Heating system.



R. L. GIFFORD & I. GOWLES.

HEATING SYSTEM. APPLIGATION FILED 1'IOV.12, 1909.

Patented 115211128, 1911.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1,

R. L. GIPFORD & I. GOWLES.

' HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1909.

987,8?2, Patented Ma1128, 1911 3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

R. L. GIPPORD 5: I. COWLES.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1909.-

NM, E W Lu N 11111111111111111111111111 l E W Mme w W m m wm J QM g m 4% .39 W 0 pairs snares earns prion ROBERT L. GIFFORD AND IRVING COWLES, OF CHICAG Q, ILL l 'NOIS.

HEATING Specification of Letters Patent. Patented ltlar. 28, 19111..

Application filed November 12, 1909. Serial No. 527,626.

tion are'to retain drainage water, particularly waste Wash-out water which heretofore was wasted; to r e-heat this drainage water so that it can be re-used for wash-out pur poses; to cause the drainage waterto circulate through a continuous supply loop to be available at desired parts of the roundhouse; to: provide improved means, whereby the drainage Water can be heated by live steam or exhaust steam or by blow-off steam or by combinations of live, exhaust or blowofi steam; to provide means controlled by the temperature of the wash-out water to control the supply of live steam, exhaust steam and blow-oft steam flow to the heater, so that the temperature of the wash-out water is automatically maintained; to associate the drainage water heater with a main heater connected with a blow-ofi' system and a reciprocal heater heated by exhaust steam and to so interconnect the heaters that surplus exhaust steam and surplus blow-02H steam will be diverted from the reciprocal and main heaters respectively to be available for heating the Water in the wash-out water heater; to provide improved pit construction in round-houses whereby all W3,S l1 out water or otherivasteaud drainage water can be collected and stored'in a reservoir from which it is pumped into the wash-out water loop; and in general to provide im proved construct-ion, arrangement and operation in a system of the class referred to.

In the following specification and the accompanying drawmgs are shown the various mechanisms and arrangements for carrying out the principles and features of our invention.

;In the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan View of the end. of a railway roundhouse and the various heating mechato locomotive washout and nisms, Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through one end of a roundhouse pit, Fig. 8 1s a more or less diagrammatic elevation View of a wash-out Water controlling mechanisms, and

heater and its Fig. 4 is a more or less diagrammatic view of main and reciprocal heater mechanism and controlling mechanism therefor.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 represents a roundhouse having the radial pits 2. In Fig. 2 the arrangement in the pits is shown. Each pit 's lined by heating pipes 3 fed through piping 4 from a heatin main 5 passing through a tunnel 6 communicating with all the pits.

The condensation waterfrom each set of pipes passes through a trap 7 which may discharge into the pit or be connected through piping 8 with a vacuum ump. The tunnel floor is below the level of the pit floors and along the bottom of the tunnel extends a drain main 9 which leads to a reservoir 10, as shown in Fig. l. Duringthe process of washing out locomotives as they stand over the pits the wash-0ut water flows along the pit floors into the tunnel and pipe 9 to be delivered to reservoir 10. Likewise any other waste water flowing into the pits will reach the reservoir through the main 9. To give this Waste Water a primary cleaning strainers 11 intercept the pits from the tunnel, and just in advance of the reservoir a suitable filtering or cleaning device is inserted intht main 9 to clean the drainage water. It is also advantageous to collect rail water, and for this purpose the down spouts 12 from the round-house roof empty into the tunnel. The main heater M, the reciprocal heater It and the wash-out water heater V are suitably grouped either Within the round-house or immediately adjacent thereto, shown. The supply loop 13 distributes the hot refilling Water from the reciprocal heater to the various pits, While the supply loop 14 distributes Wash-out Water from the heater W to the pits. A pump 15 extracts 00 the drainage water from the reservoir and forces it into the heater V, the heated water flowing through the loop 14 from the top pf the heater back into the bottom thereof Ve supply loop including the heater W, and a continuous refillingwater supply loop including the heater R, hot Wash-out water and hot re-filling water being instantly available upon tapping of the loops at any 110 thus have a continuous wash-out water and controllable by valve 29.

point. A branch pipe 17 connects heating mam 5 with the reciprocal heater, while piping 18 extending along the pits serves to I lead blow-oli' water and steam from the locomotive boilers to a suitable vat which will 21 passing through the water compartment i 22. Pump 15 takes from the pipe 23 extending into the reservoir 10 which receives drainage water through the main 9, as has already been stated. The drainage water is forced through piping 24 into the bottom of water compartment 22, the pump receiving its steam supply through a live steam branch 25 leading from the main live steam pipe 26 (Fig. 4). A relief path 24 is controlled by relief valve 24" to convey overflow water to the reservoir. The connections of supply loop 14 with heater W are plainly shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 4, the general arrangement of the blow'off vat, main heater, reciprocal heater and the controlling accessories is like that described in detail in the co-pending application of Irving Cowles, Serial N 0. 524,116, filed October 25rd, 1909. The blow-off water and steam pipe 18 referred to in Fig. 1 leads into the main vat 26?, this connection being controlled by the valve 27, a direct line 28 leading to the sewer The level of the water in the auxiliary vat 29 is controlled by the automatic valve mechanism 30 controlling the outlet 31 to the sewer. A discharge connection 32 also leads from the main vat 26 to the sewer pipe 28. Steam from the main vat flows through pipe into steam compartment 34 of the main heater and into steam compartment 35 through flues 36 passing through the water compartment 37 which is fed from a main 37 Water compartment 37 connects with water compartment 38 of the reciprocal heater through a connection 39 including ,a check val ve 40 for checking back flow from the reciprocal to the main heater. Thebranch pipe 17 already referred to in Fig. 1 connects with steam compartment 41 of the reciprocal tank through a check valve 42, steam fiowing througl. the lines 43 to steam compartment 44. The water of condensation in the reciprocal and main heaters flows through traps 45 and 46 respectively into collecting pipe47 connected with a vacuum pump 48,

the water of .condensation in the wash-out heater (Fig; 3) flowing to this collecting pipe through a trap 49. Pump 48 forces the condensation water back into the main heater water compartment through the connection 50, the pump receiving its power from the live steam main 26. Parts of the supply loops 1:; and 14, already referred to, are shown in Fig. J. The steam compartments of the reciprocal and main heaters are connected by piping 51 which includes a hand valve and a back pressure valve Piping 54 leads from the heater main 5 at a point outside the check valve 42 to the steam compartment of the wash-out heater and includes a back pressure or diversion valve 55 (Fig. 4) and a diaphragm valve 56 (Fig. 3) Valve 55 is adjusted to allow flow from the heater main to the wash-out heater only when the pressure of the steam exceeds a certain predetermined value and diaphragm valve 66 further controls flow through piping 54 in accordance with the temperature of the water in the wash-out heater, thermostatic mechanism 57 being influenced by the temperature of the water to control valve 56 so that there will be no flow of steam from the heating main into the wash-out heater unless the temperature of the washout water is below a certain degree. The exhaust steam from the pumps 15 and 48 may be led through piping 5 8 into feed pipe 17, as shown, to be'utilize' for heating Water 59 represents separator in the heaters.

mechanism for discharging oil or other 'impurities through piping 60 into the sewer pipe 28. The steam compartment of the main heater connects with a relief pipe 6'1 controlled by a back pressure outlet valve 62 and connected with the steam compartment of the wash-out heater through piping 63 including a back pressure or diversion valve 64. This piping also includes the diaphragm valve 65 controlled by thermostatic mechanism 65 associated with the water in the wash-out heater. The flow of blow-off steam to the washout heater is, therefore, automatically controlled by the temperature of the water in the wash-out heater. The steam compartment of the reciprocal heater has also connection with the live steam main 26 through a branch 66 which includes a reducing valve 67. Likewise, the steam compartment of the wash-out heater is connected with the live steam main through a branch 68 including a reducing valve 69.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the operation of the wash-out water heating system can be readily understood. Pump 15 pumps from the reservoir into the Wash-out heater,

wherein the water is heated by steam flowcleaned and re-heated before again reaching the point Where it is to be used. Likewise, rain Water or other drainage water flows into the reservoir to be cleaned, heated and circulated through the supply loop. The steam for the Wash-out heater can be derived from a number of sources. Under normal conditions the steam supply will be derived from the heating main 5 and through piping 54, the heating main being desirably connected With a general heating system supplied by exhaust stealnt'rom a power plant. If the condensation in the Wash-out heater is very rapid or the pressure therein falls at any time below that for which reducing valve 69 is set, live steam will also be automatically admitted to the Wash-out heater to 'quickly bring the Water up to a desired temperature, and as soon as this temperature is reached thermostatic mechanism 57 becomes active to control the valve 56 to shut off steam supply from the Washout heater. Diaphragm valve 56, however, shuts off both exhaust and live'steam flow Whenever the Wash-out Water has reached a desired temperature and immediately admits either exhaust or live steam as soon as the temperature drops. Thus both exhaust steam and live steam are instantaneously available to quickly heat and to maintain the temperature of the Wash-out Water the flow of steam being accurately controlled by the diaphragm valve 56 and thermostatic mechanism 57 operated in accordance with the temperature of the Wash-out- Water, and a continuous circulation of Wash-out water at a constant temperature is assured.

Referring to Fig. the main heater will under ordinary conch Zions be large enough to accommodate all the bloW-otl' steam. However, under extraordinary conditions, as when several locomotives are blown off into the vat, there will be surplus steam in the main heater which in our system is adapted to be utilized and prevented from going to Waste. If the steam in the main heater rises above a certain pressure and the temperature of the wash-out water in heater N is such that valve is open, the surplus steam will be diverted to the heating compartment of the Wash-out heater through pipe 68. Relief valve 62 is ad justed for a higher pressure than diversion valve 64: in pipe 63 and allows the escape of surplus steam from the main heater when the steam exceeds the pressure for which valve. 62 is adjusted. Thus blow-off steam is also available for heating Wash-out Water in heater W, but the admission of blow-oil steam into the heater is automatically controlled by the temperature of the Water in the heater.

As in the co-pending application referred to, our improved system herein also provides for extracting all useful heat units from the blow-oit Water in vat 26, the cooled blow-off Water which is very undesirable for wash-out or refilling purposes being drained to the sewer. Pump 48 pumping compartment of the main heater creates a vacuum effect in the main heater and there by reduces the pressure in the blow-oft vat whereby boiling of the bloiv-oi't Water is maintained until all uscfulheat units have been extracted. The vacuum effect is, also extended to the reciprocal heater and to the washout heater. The reciprocal heater which should quickly heat and maintain the steam supply from the heating main 5. If the water in the heater is cold the incoming steam will be quickly condensed and the pressure lowered so that diversion valves 55 and will not be effective and thus steam flow from the heating main is confined to the reciprocal heater to quickly bring the water totemperature. As soon as the water has been brought to temperature ti o pressure again becomes normal and steam Will be available for diversion to the ash-out heater and to the main heater. Reducing valve 67 becomes effective to admit live steam flow to the reciprocal heater when the pressure therein falls, and thus the Water in the reciprocal heater can be quickly brought to and maintained at a proper temperature, refilling water at a suitable temperature circulating constantly through the supply loop comprising piping 13. Surplus steam in main 5 is not wasted, but as soon as the Wants of the reciprocal heater have been attended to any surplus steam will be diverted for heating Wash-out Water or for assisting the main heater. In our improved system, therefore, there is practically no Waste of ater or of heat units. The Wash-out Water Which was heretofore Wasted is in our system retained and c rculated through a continuous supply loop in which a heater is interposed, the used wash-out water being continuously cleaned and re-heatcd. The wash-out Water can be heated by live steam or by-exhaust steam or by blow-oft steam, all automatically controlled so that the temperature of the supply of Wash-out water remains constant; The main heater, the reciprocal heater and the Wash-out heater are closely associated and their operations are so interwoven that surplus exhaust steam and blow-off steam Will be automatically diverted from the reciprocal and main heaters respectively to the Wash-out heater. Other Waste or drainage Water such asavater from tenders which before was Wasted is in our system all retained and circulated through the supply loop with the Wash-out Water.

In our s stem we also 'ather rain water. and .Y a

from the steam compartments into the water.

Water at a proper temperature for refilling purposes has "first choice With respect to cause it to mix and circulate with the wash out water, this soft rain water being very desirable for flushing and cleaning purposes.

o do not desire to be limited to the precise arrangements shown, as modifications can be made without departing from the scope of our invention.

e, therefore, desire, to secure the follo\\'ing claims by Letters Patent:

1. 111 a locomotive wash-out system, the combination with a round house and the 10- comotive stalls therein, of a collecting sys tem for drainage Wash-out water used in the round house, a Water heater, means for delivering the drainage waterto said heater, a continuous supply loop extending from the heater to the round house stalls, and

back to the heater and means for maintaining a constantcirculation of the heated Water in said supply loop whereby the presence of cold water in said supply loop is precluded.

2. In a locomotive Wash-out system, the combination with a round house and the locon'lotive.st-alls therein, of a collecting system and reservoir for drainage Wash-out water used in the round house, a Water heater, mean for delivering the drainage water from t 1e reservoir to the heater, a supply main extending from the heater to the round house stalls for delivering hot wash-out water, means for heating the heater, automatic means for regulating the heater to raise the supply of Water therein to a predetermined temperature only, and means-for maintaining a constant circulation of heated water through said supply main, whereby heated Water is maintained constantly on tap at the stalls.

In witness hereof, We hereunto subscribe our names this ninth day of November A. D. 1909.

ROBERT L. GIFFORD. IRVING OOWLES,

Witnesses:

CHARLES J. SCHMIDT, NELLIE B. DEARBORN. 

